Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Delphine? More like Delfine!

Can we talk about the Season 3 “Orphan Black” premiere? No, wait, that’s a lie. I only sort of want to talk about the Season 3 “Orphan Black” premiere. I mostly want to talk about Delphine. There is no other character on “Orphan Black” right now that I am more simultaneously scared of and turned on by than Delphine. This new, straight-haired, no-nonsense, socket-squishing Delphine is quite something. I know some are calling her “Mean Delphine,” but she is so much more than that. She has become perhaps the clones’ most fierce protector. And as such she appears to be willing and capable of doing whatever is necessary to protect the, all of them. In short, you don’t fuck with her. Goodbye old Delphine, hello Boss Ass Bitch Delphine.

I actually greatly enjoy this new development, and not just because strong, badass women are sexy. It’s because since the start Delphine’s true motivations have been a little suspect. I’ve never doubted her love and connection with Cosima – that always felt real. But I’ve wondered what her end game really was. Was she in it for Dyad? For science? For herself? Now the answer appears to be evident: She was in it for the clones and one clone in particular, Cosima. But as the song goes, “If you love someone, set them free…” So to truly love and protect Cosima she had to let Cosima go. So as Dyad’s new Rachel, she does just that. Oh, cruel fate. You heart-crushing bastard.

So while I still dislike the boy clones (way to make them completely indistinct from each other aside for wispy facial hair and/or scars, show) and the increasingly convoluted layers of conspiracy (First Dyad now Topside, oy, if this thing ends with Overlord Xenu I’m going to be pissed), I do like this new clearly focused Delphine. Granted, she scares the shit out of me. But I respect the hell out of her, too. And, you know, she can get it anytime. Anytime at all.

I really like how they have developed the Delphine character a little bit more and have made her actually interesting. And Evelyne Brochu is bringing it. I imagine acting next to Tatiana can be quite intimidating in itself but Evelyne is on fire.

The impressive thing to me about the change in Delphine (besides the power suit look) was the increased acting range she gets to show now. Delphine is so conflicted - between trying to protect the sisters and appear to run Dyad, she has a lot going on. A very nice acting challenge for her.